Raiders 53-man roster projection after preseason game No. 3

Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: KarlJoseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: KarlJoseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Safety (4): Karl Joseph, Reggie Nelson, Erik Harris, Marcus Gilchrist

The expectation was the Raiders would start Karl Joseph at safety once again in 2018,  but Erik Harris is making a serious push to be a starter. Head coach Jon Gruden has loved him from day one, and he has backed up Gruden’s confidence with solid play on the field all summer.

Outside of those two, expect the rest of the safety position to be filled with Reggie Nelson and Marcus Gilchrist. Nelson and Joseph started all 16 games for the Raiders last season, but Gilchrist gives them more versatility, and it would not surprise if he eventually made his way to  the starting lineup over Nelson at the other safety spot.

So there it is, our third projection of the Raiders final 53-man roster. Players are moving up and down the depth chart as we enter the fourth, and final regular season game, and while the starters may not play Thursday, there will be plenty of passion coming out of all of these bubble players against the Seahawks.

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